He started on his solo career in 1970 with the release of the self-titled album "Eric Clapton." Eric's distinctive style was a mixture of influences from Chicago Blues, B.B King, Buddy Guy and others. Eric Clapton is ranked #2 on Rolling Stone Magazine's "100 Greatest Guitarists" List is also the only guitarist to be entered 3 times into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
B.B King was born, Riley B. King, September 16, 1925 on the Belclair cotton plantation in Itta Bena, Missisipi. It was said that King learned his first three chords from his pastor at the local Pentacostal Church. His official musical debut came in 1949 after working and playing between Memphis and Mississippi during 1943-1948. This debut came in the manner of a recording contract under a "RPM Records" out of Los Angeles. King had one prior single entitled, "Miss Martha King," that wasn't very popular. King's real success started after the he formed is own band "The B.B. King Review," and began touring across the US. King was known for his definitive and sophisticated style of soloing. It's also noted that King was never very talented on with his chord playing, so his trademark style of fluid string bending and shimmering vibrato might have been just a way to account for his known weakness.